Using these charts and graphs.
Please note: you can use these images in powerpoint presentations, slideshows, web sites, etc provided that you credit Rhett A. Butler / mongabay.com as the source. If you have further questions about this, please read the terms of use.

Deforestation in the Brazlian Amazon, 1988-present60-70 percent of deforestation in the Amazon results from cattle ranches while the rest mostly results from small-scale subsistence agriculture. Despite the widespread press attention, large-scale farming (i.e. soybeans) currently contributes relatively little to total deforestation in the Amazon. Most soybean cultivation takes place outside the rainforest in the neighboring cerrado grassland ecosystem and in areas that have already been cleared. Logging results in forest degradation but rarely direct deforestation. However, studies have showed a close correlation between logging and future clearing for settlement and farming. contextof image

Causes of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, 2000-2005The above pie chart showing deforestation in the Amazon by cause is based on the median figures for estimate ranges. Please note the low estimate for large-scale agriculture. Between 2000-2005 soybean cultivation reesulted in a small overall percentage of direct deforestation. Nevertheless the role of soy is quite significant in the Amazon. As explained by Dr. Philip Fearnside, "Soybean farms cause some forest clearing directly. But they have a much greater impact on deforestation by consuming cleared land, savanna, and transitional forests, thereby pushing ranchers and slash-and-burn farmers ever deeper into the forest frontier. Soybean farming also provides a key economic and political impetus for new highways and infrastructure projects, which accelerate deforestation by other actors."contextof image

Tropical deforestation rates from 2000-2005Tropical deforestation rates from 2000-2005, ranked in decending order by the highest amount of average annual forest loss for 25 countries based on data from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).contextof image

Total percentage loss of primary forest, 1990-2005Statistics from 17 tropical countries for which the United Nations has somewhat reliable figures for primary forest cover. Total deforestation statistics typically fail to distinguish between general deforestation, reforestation through plantations, and the loss of biologically important primary forests (also called old-growth forests). Looking at primary forest loss figures for these countries reveals an alarming increase in deforestation of these endangered ecosystems.contextof image

Primary forest deforestation, 2000-2005Statistics from 17 tropical countries for which the United Nations has somewhat reliable figures for primary forest cover. Total deforestation statistics typically fail to distinguish between general deforestation, reforestation through plantations, and the loss of biologically important primary forests (also called old-growth forests). Looking at primary forest loss figures for these countries reveals an alarming increase in deforestation of these endangered ecosystems.contextof image

Rate of change of primary forest loss, 1990-2005Statistics from 17 tropical countries for which the United Nations has somewhat reliable figures for primary forest cover. Total deforestation statistics typically fail to distinguish between general deforestation, reforestation through plantations, and the loss of biologically important primary forests (also called old-growth forests). Looking at primary forest loss figures for these countries reveals an alarming increase in deforestation of these endangered ecosystems.contextof image

National GHG emissions from industrial sources (electricity generation, transportation, buildings, etc) and LULUCF, 2000 Note that some countries have negative emissions from LULUCF meaning they these sources are a net carbon sink. Also note that the E.U. is listed in addition to its individual member countries.contextof image

Influence of soy prices on deforestation in the Brazilian AmazonInfluence of soy prices (CPI-adjusted, 12-month moving average) on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Deforestation in the states of Mato Grosso and Para has shown a particularly strong correlation to soy prices in recent years. All figures in hectares (2.47 acres).contextof image

Development of cleared land in Kalimantan, 1985-1997Results of Forest Conversion. Derived from figures found in WWF 2005 and based on data from The World Bank: Indonesia: Environment and Natural Resource Management in a Time of Transitio, February 2001contextof image

Total area of primary forest cover, 2005Statistics from 17 tropical countries for which the United Nations has somewhat reliable figures for primary forest cover. Total deforestation statistics typically fail to distinguish between general deforestation, reforestation through plantations, and the loss of biologically important primary forests (also called old-growth forests). Looking at primary forest loss figures for these countries reveals an alarming increase in deforestation of these endangered ecosystems.contextof image

Countries with the highest percentage of threatened species according to the IUCN Red ListCountries with the highest percentage of threatened species [(extinct+endangered+vulnerable)/(total assessed species-data deficient species)] derived from IUCN 2006 data. The United States ranks sixth at 41 percent, New Zeland ninth (34%), Madagascar tenth (34%), Australia fourteenth (32%), and Japan 31st (23%). contextof image

Countries with the highest number of threatened speciesCountries with the highest number of threatened species according to 2006 IUCN Red List data. The chart includes species listed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU) by IUCN and lists mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, mollusks, other invertebrates, and plants in the totals.contextof image

Soy expansion in the Brazilian Amazon, 1990-2005Total deforestation and area of soybean cultivation across states in the Brazilian Amazon. Overall soybean cultivation makes up only a small portion of deforestation, though its role is accelerating. Further, soybean expansion and the associated infrastructure development and farmer displacement is driving deforestation by other actors. Note: some soybean farms are established on already degraded rainforest lands and neighboring cerrado ecosystems. Therefore it would be inappropriate to assume the area of soybean planting represents its actual role in deforestation. contextof image

Soy expansion and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, 1990-2005Annual deforestation rates and annual soy expansion for states in the Brazilian Amazon 1990-2005. Note that the 1995-1996 and 1998-1999 years were negative and do not show up on the chart. Graphs based on Brazilian government data. contextof image

Soy acreage expansion in the Brazilian Amazon compared with the soy priceSoy acreage expansion in the Brazilian Amazon compared with the price of soybeans (CPI-adjusted, 12-month moving average). All figures in hectares.contextof image

Influence of live cattle prices on deforestation in the Brazilian AmazonInfluence of live cattle prices (CPI-adjusted, 12-month moving average) on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. While nearly two-thirds of Amazon clearing can be attributed to conversion for cattle pasture, deforestation in the states of Mato Grosso and Para has shown a only a slight correlation to cattle prices in recent years. This could be due, in part, to the use of cattle pasture for land speculation (land prices are rising faster than the value of cattle) and as a hedge against inflation and currency fluctuation. All figures in hectares (2.47 acres).contextof image

Annual soy prices, cattle prices, and deforestation in the AmazonThe recent surge in soy and cattle prices could be driving an increase in forest fires. Annual deforestation figures for the 2007-2008 year will not be released until August of 2008, though new data for the 2007 burning season should be available by the end of the year. contextof image

Potential annual earnings from Avoided DeforestationPotential earnings from avoided deforestation, based on annual rate of forest loss in selected countries from 2000 to 2005 and average carbon storage values from FAO. Carbon is assumed to be priced at $5 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.contextof image

National GHG emissions from industrial sources (electricity generation, transportation, buildings, etc) and LULUCF, 2000 Note that some countries have negative emissions from LULUCF meaning they these sources are a net carbon sink. Also note that the E.U. is listed in addition to its individual member countries.contextof image

National GHG emissions from industrial sources (electricity generation, transportation, buildings, etc) and LULUCF, 2000 Note that some countries have negative emissions from LULUCF meaning they these sources are a net carbon sink. Also note that the E.U. is listed in addition to its individual member countries.contextof image

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from mongabay.com operations (server, data transfer, travel) are mitigated through an association with Anthrotect,
an organization working with Afro-indigenous and Embera communities to protect forests in Colombia's Darien region.Anthrotect is protecting the habitat of mongabay's mascot: the scale-crested pygmy tyrant.

"Rainforest" is used interchangeably with "rain forest" on this site. "Jungle" is generally not used.